# NTSB CEN12CA009: Robinson Helicopter R22 Beta, N4170M, Hibbing, MN, October 4, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 4, 2011, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Hibbing, MN - Coordinates: 47.478054, -92.847221 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4781&lon=-92.8472&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-MSP-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82009 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82009/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82009 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA009 ## Probable cause The private pilot's failure to maintain control of the helicopter during the landing flare. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 96 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 67 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, 85 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7640110), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student held a private pilot certificate with a helicopter rating and was receiving instruction toward a commercial helicopter pilot certificate when the accident occurred. According to the instructor, the student pulled aft cyclic too early while beginning a landing flare following a practice autorotation. This resulted in an increase in main rotor rpm and a decrease in airspeed. The instructor then adjusted the throttle in an attempt to decrease the rpm. The instructor stated that the student then applied excessive left pedal, which resulted in the helicopter making a 180-degree turn while the helicopter was six feet above the ground. The instructor stated that he then decreased the collective and put the helicopter on the ground before the situation worsened. The helicopter contacted the ground as it skidded backward, resulting in substantial damage to the tail boom. ## Factual narrative The student held a private pilot certificate with a helicopter rating and was receiving instruction toward a commercial helicopter pilot certificate when the accident occurred. According to the instructor, the student pulled aft cyclic too early while beginning a landing flare following a practice autorotation. This resulted in an increase in main rotor rpm and a decrease in airspeed. The instructor then adjusted the throttle in an attempt to decrease the rpm. The instructor stated the student then applied excessive left pedal, which resulted in the helicopter making a 180 degree turn while the helicopter was six feet above the ground. The instructor stated he then decreased the collective and put the helicopter on the ground before the situation worsened. The helicopter contacted the ground as it skidded backwards resulting in substantial damage to the tail boom. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4170M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4170M), registered now, S/N 4328, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-J2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-j2a) (registry code 42314, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 4328 - Airframe hours: 1127 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-J2A 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Casey M. Hansen - Registered owner: Vermilion Ventures LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 18, 2011, 36 hours before - Departed: HIB, Hibbing, MN - Destination: HIB, Hibbing, MN - Airport: HIB, Range Regional Airport, runway 13, 6,750 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 27; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 30, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 266 total, 230 in this make and model, 224 as pilot in command, 41 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; private; medical: class 1 - Student pilot; age 21; injuries: none; private; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 20, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 170 total, 140 in this make and model, 52 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: HIB ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20111004023399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111004023399A), Oct 4, 2011: Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA, Hibbing, MN, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Was acting as a flight instructor for a student receiving commercial helicopter flight training. The student was performing a simulated… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82009. 554 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 554 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40357020&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.